2020 Annual Award Winners

District I Nurse Aide of the Year

LaToya Bailey has been a Certified Nursing Assistant for twenty-two years and has spent the last nine years as part of the Universal Healthcare of Fletcher family! Throughout her years of dedication and service, LaToya has been an exemplary team member and role model for her peers. She always maintains a friendly and professional demeanor with a smile, even during hectic or challenging moments. With an upbeat and positive personality, she leaves a lasting impression on the residents under her care and their families. LaToya is affectionately known for taking special time with her residents and providing individualized care. If she is applying make-up, or curling and setting hair for her female residents, she always exceeds expectations and goes above and beyond. During holidays and special events, LaToya contacts loved ones to discuss clothing options, so her residents always look their best! Not only does it make the residents feel good about their appearance, her extra pampering makes them feel loved and valued. She ensures that families are included with the care she provides so the best…..click here to read full biography.

District II Nurse Aide of the Year

Linda Thompson has been a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for over twenty years and currently serves as a Care Partner for White Oak Manor of Charlotte. In this role, she is responsible for mentoring and helping new CNA’s get oriented to the residents they will care for. Linda’s kindness when giving direction has made a great difference in how new CNAs handle themselves. Linda is an incredible role model and demonstrates the best techniques possible. This helps make the transition of care seamless and exceptional. Her support, teaching, and guidance help mold the future care givers in our industry! A perfect example of this occurred in August of 2000. Linda was featured in an article in The Charlotte Observer focusing on the shortage of Certified Nursing Assistants in our state. The article, “Health Care Can’t Hire Enough Caring Hands,” followed her throughout her daily tasks of caring to each resident at the facility. Mecklenburg county resident Vicki McLain ran across the article. She was so moved by Linda’s love, compassion, and grace as a caregiver that she came to the facility to apply for a job…..click here to read full biography.

District III Nurse Aide of the Year

Maria Canuto-Sosa was born in Mexico in a small town that was stricken with poverty and little work opportunities. Her parents wanted their children to have a better future, so at the age of 2 years old, she and her family moved to the United States. Growing up, Maria’s mother always instilled in her that life is about serving others. She watched her mom take care of her siblings and other adults selflessly and it inspired Maria to do the same thing. Maria is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Alpine Health and Rehabilitation of Asheboro. Maria has been a CNA for seven years and was nominated by a very special group, the Resident Council. When Administrator Chip Lacy-Sellers brought up the 2020 awards ceremony and asked for nominees, everyone in the room shouted Maria’s name. “In 20 years, I have never seen the Resident Council agree on something so quickly and so easily!” The residents then begin to share their own stories of how Maria serves them on a daily basis. The experience she provides is outstanding. Maria knows their routine and has things ready for them before they even mention it…..click here to read full biography.

District IV Nurse Aide of the Year

Ashley Crevier is the heart and soul of Peak Resources/Pinelake in Carthage. She has been a Certified Nursing Assistant for ten years but has worn many hats at the facility through the years. Ashley has filled in every position from staff scheduler, human resources, accounts payable, activity assistant, and many more! She has a no quit attitude and an admirable work ethic. She will work all day and night to do whatever it takes to make the resident’s lives better in her care. This was especially evident during Hurricane Florence when she stayed at the facility for five days straight to make sure the facility operated as normal. She brings so much joy and happiness to all the residents, staff and family members at the facility. Ashley knew at a very young age that she wanted to be in the healthcare field. Two pivotal moments in her life led to her decision to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. The first was when she was seven years old and her stepfather was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. Watching doctors, nurses, and CNAs give love, compassionate care and support to him through several years of surgeries…..click here to read full biography.

District V Nurse Aide of the Year

Pam Farrow has been a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for twenty-three years. They’ve been honored at Cross Creek Health Care in Swan Quarter to have her at their facility for practically her entire career! On a regular basis department heads and Nurse Managers check the schedule and say, “Pam’s here – today is going to be a great day.” They know her residents will be well cared for, there will be coordination between departments, and that nothing will pass by her unnoticed. She never limits her work to or thinks in terms of “my assignment” and the quality care she provides is excellent. Pam always has a smile on her face, going out of her way to motivate everyone she comes intact with, and is their top choice to mentor new CNAs. The facility is located in the Eastern part of the state, which means frequent evacuations due to hurricanes. Pam hasn’t missed a single evacuation, and there have been over a dozen in her career. She is always the first to volunteer and recruit others. This past September, even when they were on their fifth day of evacuation for Hurricane Dorian, Pam was the first person up and getting our team…..click here to read full biography.

Riley W. Clapp Outstanding Service Recipient

Mike Murrell works in the dietary department at Crystal Bluffs Rehabilitation and Health Care Center where he has been serving up delicious meals as an evening cook for over six years. He is the epitome of a dedicated, hard-working and loving spirit. He has shown his dedication to the entire organization through his consistency in performance not only to his job, but also to the residents and his coworkers. Mike selflessly places the needs of others before his own! In 2018, he voluntarily led the Dietary Department on two separate occasions due to the loss of a coworker’s mother and father. Mike personally handled admission visits and worked extended hours to ensure supplies were properly stocked, and he even canceled much of his holiday vacation so the Chef could spend the last few weeks with his father at the end of his life. That same year, Mike was also a part of the team that sheltered in place for five days during Hurricane Florence. In addition to a full census of over 90 residents, the facility also had over 125 staff, family members, and guests from the community in need of care, safety and…..click here to read full biography.